CHANDIGARH, MARCH 10 :The stage is all set for the 57th All India Police Hockey Championship being conducted by the Chandigarh Police Department from March 11 to 19.
Addressing a press conference at Chandigarh Police Headquarters in Sector 9 here today, Organising Secretary DIG Mahabir Singh, IPS, said that 23 police teams from various states and Union Territories have staked their claim for the top honours. He disclosed that a number of Olympians, internationals and national players would be seen in action during the competitions. The tournament would be conducted in two phases. During the first phase matches would be played on league basis. The winners of eight pool will qualify for the knockout quarter-final stages. The league matches would be played at the Sector 42 Astroturf Stadium and Sector 18 Hockey Stadium (grass).
Mr Mahabir said that from quarter-final onwards the matches would be conducted at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium.
Announcing that experienced SS Walia from Mumbai had been appointed at Technical Director, Mr Mahabir said that the teams had been divided into eight pools. Draw of the tournament was taken out in the morning in the presence of managers/officials of the participating teams.
Defending champions and star-studded Punjab Police have been placed in Pool A along with Uttrakhand. Hosts Chandigarh have been clubbed with CRPF and RPF. Seasoned campaigners Border Security Force, Tripura and Assam are in Pool H.
The opening match tomorrow will be played between Central Industrial Security Force and Sashastra Seema Bal at 2 p.m. at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium. Four matches would be played on the opening day.
Mr Mahabir Singh said that Haryana Director General of Police RS Dalal will inaugurate the tournament on March 12. The chief guest will be received by the members of the organising committee, including Chandigarh Inspector General of Police SK Jain, who is also chairman of the 57th edition of the All India Police Hockey.
Three trophies — winners, runners-up and Fair Play– will be at stake.
Among others who were present in the press conference were SP (Operations and Training) RS Ghumman, Mr Vijay Kumar, Mr Jagbir Singh and Technical Director Satinder Singh Walia.
Groupings:
Pool A: Punjab Police, Uttranchal.
Pool B: CISF, SSB, Jharkhand.
Pool C: Karnataka, UP, Orissa.
Pool D: JK Police, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu.
Pool E: Maharashtra, Gujarat, ITBP.
Pool F: CRPF, RPF, Chandigarh.
Pool G: Haryana, AP, Bihar.
Pool H: BSF, Tripura and Assam.
Fixtures: March 11: CISF vs SSB (2 p.m.), BSF (4 p.m.) at Sector 42 Stadium. UP vs Orissa (2 p.m); Maharashtra vs Gujarat (4 p.m) at Sector 18 Stadium.
March 12: JK vs TN (8 a.m.), Maharashtra vs ITBP (12.00 noon), Jharkhand vs SSB (2 p.m), AP vs Bihar (4 p.m.) at Sector 42 Stadium. CRPF vs RPF (2 p.m), Tripura vs Assam ( 4 p.m) at Sector 18 Stadium.
March 13: Punjab Police vs Uttrakhand (8 a.m), CISF vs Jharkand (10 a.m), Karnataka vs UP (12.00 noon), CRPF vs Chandigarh (2 p.m), Haryana vs Bihar (4 p.m) at Sector 42 Stadium. BSF vs Assam ( 2 p.m), Rajsthan vs TN (4 p.m) at Sector 18 Stadium.
March 14: RPF vs Chandigarh (8 a.m.), Haryana vs AP (10 a.m.), Karnataka vs Orissa (12.00 noon), Rajasthan vs J-K (2 p.m) at Sector 42 Stadium. Gujarat vs TIBP (9 a.m.) at Sector 18 Stadium.
March 15 (q-finals) Winners Pool A vs Winners Pool C (8 a.m.), Winners Pool B vs Winners Pool D (10 a.m.), Winners Pool E vs Winners Pool G (2 p.m.), Winners Pool F vs Winners Pool H (4 p.m).
March 16: Rest Day.
March 17: Winners E/G vs Winners F/H ( 1 p.m), Winners A/C vs Winners B/D (3 p.m).
March 18: Classification match No 27 vs No 28 (8 a.m.).
March 19: Hard Line match and final.